Picket-fence-making machine



(No Model.)

0. L. HORRAS. PIGKET FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

m: Moams 951:2: co, PnoTo-umu, WASHINGTON o c UNITED STATES ATENT 5.T*FFICE.

CASPER LOUIS HORRAS, OF MANHATTAN, IOIVA.

PICKET-FENCE-IVIAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,995, dated January 12, 1897.

A li ati fil d August 18,1896. Serial No. 608,106. (No model.)

- To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CASPER LOUIS HORRAS, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Manhattan, in the county of Keokuk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picket-Fence-Making Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to-machines for making picket-and-wire fences ;and it consists of the novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the machine, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an edge View of the machine. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of one of the upright standards of the machine.

The machine consists of the two upright standards 1 and 2. Each of the standards is composed of two upright strips 3 3. Said strips are held apart by the blocks 4 and 5, placed, respectively, at the bottom and top of the strips and between the same.

The machine is provided with a number of revolving shafts 6. Said shafts are journaled at or near their ends in the movable blocks 7. Said blocks are secured at any desired point between the strips 3 3, as hereinafter described. The shafts 6 are preferably journaled in the blocks 7 by means of the ballbearings, as shown in Fig. 1. A concaved bearing 8 is made in the block, and a concaved bearing 9 is located on the shaft 6. The balls 10 play between said concaved bearings. The shafts are each provided with two or more perforations 11, which run longitudinally through the shafts and are adapted to receive the Wires 12.

Any suitable means may be employed to secure the blocks 7 7 at any desired point between the strips 3 3. The device shown in the drawings consists of a bolt or bolts 13, passing through the block and also passing through the elongated plates 14 14, one located on each side of the block 7. The ends of the plates 14 14 are adapted to bear against the upright strips 3 3, and when the nut on the bolt 13 is tightened the block is firmly held in place between the strips 3 3. (See Fig. 3.) The blocks 7 are not quite so thick as the strips 3 3 are broad,and hence the plates 14 14 can firmly grip the strips 3 3.

with the shifting rest 15. Said rest is provided with the collar 16, which surrounds the lower end of the standard, and said collar is provided with a set-screw 17 ,which is adapted to impinge upon the standard and thereby hold the rest at any desired point.

Each shaft 6 is provided with a sprocketwheel 18, and the sprocket-chain 19 engages each sprocket-wheel and is adapted to impart motion to each shaft.

A tension device for the sprocket-chain 10 is provided. Said device consists of the roller 20,which is adapted to bear against the chain 19. The shaft of the roller 20 is journaled at each end in a strip 21. Each strip 21 is connected by the bolts 22 22 with a strip 23, located on the opposite side of the standard from the strip 21. Just under the strips 23 23 the upright strips composing the standards are provided with recesses 24, (see Fig. 2,) and in said recesses are located the coilsprings 25. The outer ends of said coil-springs bear against the under sides of the strips 23 and tend to push them out. Thus the roller 20 is at all times firmly pressed against the chain 19, and thereby takes up the slack in the chain.

One of the shafts 6 is provided with a crankhandle 26,whereby the shaft is revolved, and through the sprocket wheels and chain the other shafts are simultaneously revolved,and hence the wires 12 12 are twisted about the pickets that are interposed between them.

The object of having the bearing-blocks 7 7 adjustable is that the distance between the shafts 6 6 and hence between the line-wires of the fence may be varied. If the adjustment of the said blocks produces too much slack in the chain 19, one of the links of the chain may be removed, and the roller 20 will compensate for the remainder ofthe slack.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A picket-and-wire-fenoe-making machine The standard 1 is provided at its lower end consisting of two upright standards, movable blocks temporarily fixed to said standards, perforated shafts journaled in said blocks, sprocket wheels fixed on said s11afts,a sprocket-ehain engaging each sprocket-wheeLa tension device consisting of a roller journaled to strips supported by the standards, and coilsprings located on the standards and adapted to exert a pressure against the connections of said strips and thereby cause the roller to 10 press laterally against the sprocket-chai n and take up the slack therein.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CASPER LOUIS IIORRAS. \Vitncsses:

GEO. L. BARToW, T. A. DONOHOE. 

